A winter storm warning will be in effect until Friday morning throughout Southwest Colorado, according to the National Weather Service.
The Colorado Department of Transportation on Tuesday night warned that 2 feet of snow could fall through Friday morning in the southern San Juan Mountains, including Rico, Telluride and Hesperus. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center warned that mountain drivers would face snow slide mitigation along mountain passes, such as Wolf Creek Pass. The avalanche control work will cause travel delays while operations take place and plows clear the roads.
“This will be a lengthy event, lasting more than two days for much of Colorado,” said Kyle Lester, CDOT director of highway maintenance. “Travelers will need to be prepared with adequate snow tires or other traction devices.” Chain laws may be in effect for commercial drivers.
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction forecasts a 60-70 percent chance of snow in Montezuma County on Wednesday through Thursday, with about an inch of accumulated snow. High temperatures are expected to be in the middle to upper 30s, and overnight lows about 20 degrees.
The storm is expected to move out of the area on Friday afternoon, followed by sunny skies on Saturday.
The cold and snow is expected to hit across the state.
On Tuesday, Denver canceled the annual parade of cowboys and cattle through downtown that kicks off the National Western Stock Show because of expected frigid weather and snow.
With the temperature forecast to only reach 6 degrees at noon on Thursday, parade organizers say the risk of injury to animals and people was too great to continue with the tradition, the Associated Press reported. The parade won’t be rescheduled.
Between 5 and 10 inches of snow are also expected to fall in the Denver area between Wednesday and Friday.
CDOT road crews were been on avalanche control along U.S. Highway 550 all Tuesday morning starting on Coal Bank Pass and working toward the northern side of Molas Pass, spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes said.
“There have been intermittent delays on 550, and we anticipate heavy snowfall tonight,” Schwantes said.
Chain laws for commercial vehicles were in effect on Coal Bank and Molas passes. Chain laws also are in effect on U.S. Highway 160 at Wolf Creek Pass.
The Durango Herald contributed to this article.
